GALT, CA (MPG) - Career Development Events build on what is learned in agricultural classes and encourage members to put their knowledge into practice. These events are designed to help a member prepare for a career in agriculture by testing and challenging the student's technical, leadership, interpersonal and teamwork skills as well as their knowledge of the subject matter.

Career Development Events answer the question, “When will I use this knowledge in the real world?”

On April 18, at the Fresno State Finals, the Galt FFA Small Engines team secured the 2026 State Championship.

 “This year our motto was ‘Work for it’ and these young men embraced that motto, consistently showed up and did their job. I cannot say enough of how proud I am of them and their achievements,” said Derek Silva, who coaches the team.

The 2026 State Champion Small Engines team consists of Lucas Villalpando (2nd High Individual), Parker Millard (4th Individual) and Noah Dean (6th High Individual) of the Galt FFA Small Engines team brought home a State Championship on April 18 the at the Fresno State Field Day.

 

From left are 2026 Small Engines State Champions Lucas Villalpando, Noah Dean and Parker Millard, with Coach Derek Silva.

This Career Development Event (CDE) prepares students for careers in equipment repair and maintenance. The contest is composed of Part/Tool ID, Theory, Problem Solving and Technical Skills as well as Troubleshooting. Galt’s Small Engines team earned First Place in the five subcategory award areas and brought home the State Championship.

Two weeks later success would happen again on May 2, at both the Cal Poly State Finals, San Luis Obispo and the Inaugural Equipment Technician Contest State Finals in Selma.

The purpose of establishing an Equipment Technician contest for the California Association of Future Farmers of America (FFA) is to foster the development of technical skills and knowledge among students in the field of agricultural mechanics.

This contest aims to: enhance practical skills, promote career readiness, encourage innovation, strengthen industry connections, highlight the importance of agricultural mechanics, foster teamwork and leadership, and recognize excellence.

Students compete in Part/Tool ID, Theory, Pre-Delivery Inspection, Technical Skills and Troubleshooting of a Tractor. At the first ever California ETC State Finals, Galt FFA brought home another State Championship with Noah Dean (5th High Individual), Lucas Villalpando (6th), Santiago Gonzalez (7th) and Parker Millard (8th) out of 35 students and eight schools.

 

Pictured from left are the 2026 Equipment Technician Contest state champions Santiago Gonzalez, Lucas Villalpando, Noah Dean and Parker Millard.

“I must admit that going to this competition for the first time without experiencing it, I wasn't sure what to expect,” said Silva.

"In order to make sure our boys were ready and locked in, I reached out to industry to learn from industry technicians. I really appreciate how receptive and supportive industry is by allowing us to visit industry and share their knowledge,” he added.

The team would like to thank Belkorp Ag Stockton, and Holt of California, Reedley College Mechanized Agriculture and Quinn Caterpillar.

While the Equipment Technician team competed for the state title in Selma, Galt FFA members Courtney Brouwer (1st High Individual), Maeve Cordonnier (6th), Madison McDonald (8th) and Lillie Jackson (9th) won the state title in Farm Business Management down in San Luis Obispo. The team spent months of preparation focused on real-world agricultural finance concepts, including analyzing assets, managing expenses, understanding depreciation, and making sound business decisions. This Career Development Event challenges students to apply classroom knowledge to practical scenarios that mirror the complexities of running an agricultural operation.

“This team truly embodies what it means to learn by doing,” said Coach Sarah Ronayne.

“From long practices working through financial scenarios to conversations that pushed their understanding of agriculture as a business, they showed incredible dedication and growth. Beyond their individual success, the team’s chemistry and commitment to one another played a key role in their championship run,” she added. “Their ability to collaborate, think critically, and support each other under pressure set them apart from the competition. This victory highlights not only their technical knowledge, but also the strong leadership and teamwork skills developed through the Galt FFA program.”

Farm Business Management is one of the few Career Development Events that advances to the national level, and with their state championship, this team has earned the opportunity to represent California at the National FFA Convention & Expo this October in Indianapolis, Indiana. There, they will compete against the top teams from across the country for a national title, continuing to showcase the strength of Galt FFA on a national stage.